𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕊𝔸 (Thyme x OC)

The Night of New Beginnings

The soft morning light filtered through the pale blue curtains of the hospital room, casting a gentle glow over the sterile white walls and the various medical equipment humming quietly. Arisa slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the brightness as she tried to take in her surroundings. The familiar antiseptic smell and the steady beep of the heart monitor brought her back to consciousness.

Her body ached all over, a dull throb that reminded her of the previous night's harrowing ordeal. She lifted a hand to her head, wincing as her fingers brushed against the bandages. Her throat felt dry, and her voice came out as a hoarse whisper, barely audible over the gentle whirr of the machines.

"Where... am I?" she muttered to herself, her voice cracking.

She looked around, her gaze moving from the IV drip attached to her arm to the small table beside the bed, cluttered with flowers and get-well cards. Despite the warmth of the room, she felt an overwhelming sense of coldness, a loneliness that seemed to seep into her bones.

Arisa tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in her side made her gasp and fall back against the pillows. She closed her eyes, taking slow, measured breaths to steady herself. Memories of the warehouse, Talay's twisted smile, and the brutal beating flooded her mind, each one a painful reminder of the nightmare she had endured.

"Thyme..." she whispered, her voice barely a breath. The thought of him brought a fresh wave of pain, not just physical but emotional, a deep ache that settled in her chest. She remembered his face, battered and bloodied, and the fear in his eyes when he saw her hurt.

Arisa's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. She turned her head slowly, wincing at the movement, to see a nurse entering the room. The nurse gave her a gentle smile, her eyes filled with sympathy.

"Oh, you're awake! How are you feeling, dear?" she asked, her voice soft and soothing.

"Thirsty," Arisa managed to croak out.

The nurse nodded and poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the bedside table, handing it to Arisa with a reassuring smile. As Arisa sipped the cool water, she glanced at the door, half-expecting to see someone walk in. Thyme, Gorya, anyone. But the room remained empty, save for the nurse tending to her.

"Is there anyone you'd like us to call? Your friends were here earlier, but they had to leave," the nurse said, checking the monitors and adjusting Arisa's IV drip.

"No, it's okay," Arisa replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't want to trouble anyone. Not after everything that had happened. She felt a tear slip down her cheek and quickly wiped it away, trying to maintain some semblance of composure.

The nurse gave her a comforting pat on the hand before leaving the room, the door clicking shut behind her. Arisa was alone again, the silence of the room pressing in on her. She lay back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling, trying to push the memories away. But they clung to her, refusing to let go, a constant reminder of the nightmare she had endured.

Arisa was lost in her thoughts when the door to her hospital room burst open. Gorya and her father rushed in, their faces etched with worry. Gorya's eyes were red and puffy, evidence that she had been crying, while her father looked frazzled and anxious. Following closely behind were Ren and MJ, their expressions unreadable but tinged with something Arisa couldn't quite place.

"Arisa!" Gorya exclaimed, rushing to her bedside and engulfing her in a gentle but tight hug. "I was so worried about you. Are you okay?"

Arisa winced slightly at the pressure on her sore body but managed a weak smile. "I'm okay, Gorya. Just a bit banged up, that's all."